The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-16
PRACTICAL TALKS
At the Y, n. 9. AMIR. RusseIt's Good Talk
.W,H On tho Jury System.

H'.HH On tho Jury system. E.
The practical talk on "The Jury Sya.
tenn by Henry NJ. Russell, lEsq., Of the
Ohio county bar at the Y. NJ. O. A. parlors
last evening, brought out large number
OF leading citizena besides the regular
members OF the Association, Every chair
was occupied and the audience much
larger than has been usual on such occa.
sions. The talk was very scholarly and
highly appreciated. M
Mr.. Russell began by stating that the
people Of to-day do not appreciate the
place events occurring now will occupy In
tho worlds history. asl17.a ~ 81
That, for instance, the Anarchiats trial
at Chicago will belooked upon in the fu.
ture probably as we look back on the
trial succeeding Lord Gordon's riots and
other trials Of like nature. Scarcely any
thing Ia known OF tho actual origin Of tho
Jury system. No one knows positively
and historians are equally diacordant and
ignorant on the subject. Without going
further back than the division Of the
civil State into hundreds and these sub.
divided Into tens, related to that number
Of families under the English system wo
lind that when party was arrested for q
crime he was only declared innocent upon
twelve Of bis division and he himself
swearing to his innocence. Again there
was trial by the Jury Of bis vicinage. I'm.
like the jury Of to-day, these tried the
case on what they knew about 1t, basing
their verdict on the accused's general rep.
utation. II found guilty he was hanged
Tor his crime. The jury is one distinct
branch Of the Court which tries the case.
The Judge passes on questions Of law, the
jury on questions Of facts. Ono 10 the
complement Of the other. Therefore, 1t Is
Just as important to have good juries rs to
have good judges. HH'g% lgg
Among the peculiarities OF the system
is the number OF men required. Jury
means body OF twelve men. No one
knows why 1t has resulted 30, and history
is client as to its origin. i
Cooke or Little!on says that ''inasmuch
as there were twelve Apostles there must
be twelve jurymen." but this does not ex.
plain it.) Mf@ ,s0.l
They must nll BIO unanimous, else there
can be no verdict. In all other cases in
our government majority rules. No one
can explain the origin OF this regularity.
In Athens 500 people were often called
upon totry the cases. Among the English
at one time a greater number than twelve
were used, but the rulo was then that o
verdict could not be had unless twelve Of
the jury were agreed, the balance OF the
jury not being regarded; and this finally
Was reduced to twelve men only being
sworn. the excess being regarded as Uni.
necessary. However, this Is not q satis.
factory origin OF the requirement,
Again, 1t Is satisfaction to have intel.
ligent men serve on the jury. Intricate
questions are continually coming up, such
as only intelligent men can handle, In
some States q man's mind must be blank
as to the case, but fortunately otherwise in
our State, where, whilo a man NAV have
an opinion, uuleas it be obstinate he is not
disqualified. He nhould also have some
knowledge Of tho law in q general sense mot
the same as some OF our officers OF the law
who have enough only to make them
stupid; that is, to execute law on the be.
lief that they know it all. A Juror should
have q good idea OF the law, at least
enough to understand instructions from
the Judge. He should also be impartial
and honest. Large interests are often at
stake, therefore the system should not be
degraded. 1t is duty of each citizen to
uphold the system. As juror he should
be firm and courageouu. He should not
regard public clsmor and tho howl Of the
multitude. :.
The system is not perfect one. Uni
versal admission to the jury box is one
defect, as are also admitting persons of no
character or interest in tho community
which 60 often result in absurd yerdicts.
In closing tho speaker stated that as gen.
eral rule juries bring in tho right verdict
and do substantial Justice. It therefore
Ia the duty OF all to elevate the citizen to
the level Of q good juryman by morality
and religion, not to degrade the system b
dragging it down to lower level.
The next practical talks will be February
q, Dr.. John L. Dickey, "The Human Eve;
Its Use and Abuse )" March l, Mr., CHARLES
Burdett Hart, IA Citizen of tho Repub-
lic;" March 5, Dr.. Z. 0. Edwards, "Man
as Machine" There ia no admission
fee, and everybody is invited.
~ gT'a-a IL
Hon. R. NJ. McLANE, u. s. Minister to
Erc non an VIC D cd Ga, Na,nt Al